David Hanak The new Mac mini has been on sale since Wednesday, and today all those who plan to buy the new cheapest Mac with the idea of "refurbishing" it in their own way received it. Apple has once again made it possible to replace the operating memory by the user in the new mini, and yesterday the first tutorial on how the whole process actually looks appeared on YouTube. It is clear from the video that it is nothing complicated and a skilled user should be able to do it in ten minutes.
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Gone are the days when you could swap out both RAM and storage in a Mac mini. In the case of this year's novelty, the PCI-E SSD drive is powered by the motherboard, so it cannot be replaced. However, it is different with the operating memory, Apple left it available. In the video below, you can see what the entire exchange process looks like and what you will need for it.
To be able to open the Mac Mini and get to where you need to go, you will need three specific types of screwdrivers, Torx T6 Security, T5 and T10. T6 Security screws hold both the bottom panel of the Mac and the cable from the WiFi antenna, which is located below it. The fan is also attached in the same way, which is held by four T6 Security screws. Dismantling the fan is followed by disconnecting the two cables from the motherboard and unscrewing it from the device chassis. For this you will need a screwdriver with a T10 head, thanks to which you can easily remove the two main (and relatively large) screws.
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After this step, it is possible to slide the motherboard out of the chassis and continue. A pair of RAM slots is covered by a perforated sheet metal protector that holds four T5 screws. After removing them, the sheet protector can be pulled out and then you finally get to the individual memory modules, which are held here on the same principle as in most classic notebooks. These are DDR4 SO-DIMM modules with a frequency of 2666 MHz. So if you are planning to replace, the availability of these parts is relatively good, not to mention the price.
If you would like a factory increase in RAM capacity, you will pay 8 CZK for the transition from 16 to 6 GB at Apple. The price of 400 GB modules in the regular sales network ranges from 16 to 3 crowns. If 500 GB is not enough for you, Apple offers 4 GB for an additional fee of 000 CZK, while a pair of 16 GB modules will cost around 32 to 19 thousand crowns at domestic retailers. Apple offers the top memory version (200 GB) for an additional fee of almost 16 thousand crowns. Equivalent commercially available modules (8 x 9 GB) it costs approximately 13 thousand crowns for both however, they are not yet available.
Well, I personally don't think it's that cool. And I can build a PC myself. I'd probably rather have it replaced at an authorized Apple service center for about 30 Euros, which is the price for one service hour.
And this is supposed to be an easy memory swap? Unable to replace disk. Repairability 0. Above all, don't forget to mention how the new product is Eco.
It is allright. I "enjoy" the new Air much more, where the MB and speakers have to be removed to replace the battery... :D
I recently changed the disc in a mini 2014 and it was also an adrenaline rush when I forgot one of the cables and when I pulled out the motherboard, the cables were torn from the end like the one you can see on the fan power supply. I think it was also the fan. Fortunately, it was a flat cable and it was possible to estimate the order of the cables in that terminal. Otherwise, this seems simpler to me. Anyway, I'm glad that the RAM is going to be replaced because the disk array can be expanded via USB, which is fast enough these days.
Jasan, the external storage extension is cool, or iCloud can also be used, the price is very cool. But how long will the internal ssd last? When it collapses, the whole machine will be thrown away, and I don't like that very much. It is similar with iPhone, Watch, AirPods. Batteries, disks, power supply are parts that sooner or later will need to be replaced, and if this is not possible, the whole device is a write-off.